Wednesday, April 12 2006 16:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister's meeting with naxal-affected chief ministers tomorrow, the Centre today (Apr 12, 2006) told the country's top administrators to check spread of the menace to other states and assured 'all possible help' to combat the challenge posed by the ultras.

Terming as 'main threats' incidents like terror strikes in Delhi, Bangalore and Varanasi, caried out 'primarily' by externally-supported forces, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said "These have been desparate attempts to disturb peace and communal harmony and target economic and scientific infrastructure in the country".

For improved management of security environment, "Well- trained and equipped state police forces and improved intelligence machinery are a must to effectively deal with internal security and law and order situation," he said addressing a day-long conference of state chief secretaries and DGPs on internal security and law and order here.

With the naxalite situation continued to be 'an area of concern' for the Government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will chair a meeting of chief ministers of 13 naxal-affected states and also some chief ministers from the North East facing insurgency.

Observing that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has 'shown significant improvement" helping increase in tourism and pilgrimages, Patil said infiltration across the border had dropped this year by 54 per cent as compared to last year and terrorist-related incidents and killing of civilians and security personnel had also come down.

Today's conference was attended among others by National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, Home Secretary V K Duggal, Intelligence Bureau chief E S L Narasimhan and top officials from the Centre and states.